William h



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. BRACE, OF CASTILE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN OOLVIN` AND DARIUS P. OARGILL, OF SAME PLAGE, ONE-THIRD TO EACH.

THlLL-COUPLING SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,333, dated March 9, 1880.

Application filed September 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BRAGE, of Castile, in the county of Wyoming and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rIhill-Gouplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

This invention relates to an improvement in on the line a: m of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan show-A ing the relative arrangement of the parts as viewed from above. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the clip and shaft-iron on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows, in perspective, the

spring by which the shaft-iron is forced for- 1 each side, which rest upon the ears b bf of the 8 5 ward against the coupling-bolt.

A represents a carriage-axle of any ordinary construction, and B the clip by which the shafts are secured to it through the agency of the strap O and screw-nuts a.. Projectingforward from the clip A are the two ears b and b', pierced with holes, through which the couplin g-bolt D passes.

A spring-catch, E, is pivoted to the ear b', and is provided with a cup-shaped cavity, c, at one end, which covers the rounded head of the bolt D and prevents it from being shaken out or withdrawn until the catch` is lifted up.

A small projecting bit, c', uponl the upper side of the catch prevents it from being pushed or dropping below its proper place over the bolthead.

The shaft-iron F is of the ordinary form, ex-

cept at the point c, Where it is flattened, fora purpose which will be hereinafter described. It is connected to the shafts or pole by any suitable means, and is perforated with an ori- 5 5 ce, through which the coupling-bolt Dpasses, and connects it firmly to the ears b and b of the clip, and in the rear of the end of the shaft-iron is placed a V-shaped spring, G, with its apex upward, one of its extremities bearin g 6o against the clip between the ears andthe other against the rear extremity of the shaft-iron E. In order to prevent this spring from dropping downward through the space between the ears, it is provided with projections d d, which rest upon the top of the ears, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be seen that this spring G bears forcibly against the end of the shaftiron at all times, except when the shafts are in the position shown in Fig. 1; then the front 7o leaf of the spring and the iiattened part e of the shaft-iron are parallel, and the pressure of the spring is so slight that, upon4 raising the catch E, the boltD may be readily removed g but when the shafts or pole are elevated, as they would be when attached to a tea-m, the spring bears with a strong pressure against the end of the sh aft-iron, keeping it constantly in contact with the bolt D, and preventing all noise or rattling of the parts. 8o

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. The V-spring G, provided withlugsd upon clip, in combination with the shaft-iron F, having the iiat part c upon its rear end, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The clip B, provided with ears l) b', in combination with spring G, shaft-iron F, hav- 9o ing at part e, coupling-bolt-D,and cup-shaped spring-catch E, all constructed and arranged for joint operation in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of September, 1879.

WM. H. BRAOE. 

